The Persian Gulf War

Reaction in the West

On the day of the Iraqi invasion, the UN passed Resolution 660. The resolution called for the immediate withdrawal of Iraq from Kuwait or be faced with military action. Hussein did not believe the UN had the power, or the will, to move a military force to stop him. He did not take into account the fear of Western nations over the supply of oil.

The United States led a coalition effort of Arab and European nations in a build up of military forces to liberate Kuwait. The attack began 17 January 1991 with massive air offensive on targets throughout Iraqi. Over 100,000 flights were launched at Iraqi military, communication and industrial targets during a month-long air assault. On 24 February, the coalition of forces launched a ground offensive in order to push the Iraqis out of Kuwait. Between the 24th and 27th of February, coalition forces quickly overran Iraqi positions, and captured the capital of Kuwait. Coalition losses were 150 men during the offensive, but Iraq suffered the loss of over 200,000 troops.

By the end of the fighting an estimated $170 billion damage was inflicted upon Iraq. In addition, the Coalition placed a tough armistice upon Iraq as well as a trade embargo. To this day the United States has continued to maintain a military presence in the Gulf region to enforce UN sanctions on the Iraqi government.